Natural Blogarithms - The Dean’s Corner
by Dr. Scott R. Franklin, Dean
“I’m coming home…to the place where I belong!”
I actually remember it vividly, the spring of 1994, when I first walked onto the Wayland campus
pondering the possibility of attending school here as an undergraduate. I remember touring the
campus and not even having a clue what I should be asking the recruiter. I had a head full of dreams
but no clear vision of where my life could be headed. I can also recall sitting in my very first course
in the Moody Science Building, where my future mentor, Dr. Phil Almes, called me and several
others to stay after class just so he could tell us he was glad to see us in his church the previous
weekend. It would be unfathomable to that younger version of me that somewhere down the road,
I would be settling into the position of dean of this very school.
From glossy-eyed freshman, to an ambitious graduate with a 10 year plan, to a rookie faculty
member without a clue, to an associate dean eager to solve any problem you could throw at me, to a
virtual campus director honing the quality of our online programs, I have traveled a long way
through this system. Wayland and her mission are part of my core and there is no place I’d rather
be. I am so excited to have the opportunity to continue serving the university in a new way.
As I begin the transition into the leadership of the School of Mathematics and Sciences, I am looking
forward to many new adventures, but most of all a continuation of what has made this school great:
a mission to provide an academically challenging, learning-focused and distinctively Christian
environment for professional success and service to God and humankind.
For the last six years, my predecessor, Dr. Herb Grover, has led the school to some amazing
achievements. As you can see through his article in this newsletter, the program review that is
currently underway has revealed some truly exceptional accomplishments in the last few years
centered around the distinctives of our school: an integration of faith and science, hands-on
undergraduate research experiences with exceptional faculty, and regular travel opportunities as
part of the curriculum and beyond.
It is my lofty goal to bring my many perspectives of Wayland together to build even better
opportunities for our students to launch into their careers. Fortunately for me, with giants like Dr.
J. Hoyt Bowers, Dr. Vaughn Ross and Dr. Grover preceding me, the momentum of our school is
strong and pushing us to be even better. With our incredible faculty and strong student base, we
have all the pieces to make a truly world-class educational experience right here in rural west
Texas. What shape it will take over the next few years is still up in the air, but thanks to the timing
of the transition of leadership with the program review underway along with the adoption of a new
University Strategic Plan, the School of Mathematics and Sciences is situated to make some amazing
achievements and accomplish exceptional new things in the coming months and years.
I hope you’ll take time to read through what great things are already underway by scrolling through
our newsletter. From a recent graduate to completing their doctoral degree to exceptional
showings of our current students at recent conferences, we are still forging great success stories.
And we’re not even done yet for the year. Coming soon, our Spring Research Day on April 24 will
spotlight exceptional course projects and undergraduate research projects. Plus, we’ll soon be
crowning our School Champion, an award that recognizes outstanding achievement among our
undergraduate researchers.
If all my years at Wayland has taught me anything, it’s that God’s hand is truly on this university, the
faculty here, as well as the students. He has a great plan for the lives of the people He brings here,
and thanks to the visionary leadership of those who have come before, this great place will continue
to shape the leaders of tomorrow spreading His kingdom throughout the world.